Receptacle box and method of installing same

ABSTRACT

The present application teaches a receptacle box and methods of installing same for use in new and existing home and building construction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to receptacle boxes for construction ofstructures, and more particularly to receptacle boxes for the exteriorof structures.

BACKGROUND

Exterior outlet receptacle boxes are commonly installed on the exteriorsurface of the sheathing of a structure before the building panels(e.g., metal wall panels or vinyl siding) are installed on the structureand run up to and in contact with the receptacle boxes. This oftenrequires extensive preparation when planning the building panel layout,because multiple panels often need to be cut before installation ontothe structure in order to accommodate the locations of the receptacleboxes.

Accordingly, there is a need for a receptacle box and method ofinstalling same that are improvements over existing devices and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The receptacle box according to the present invention is furtherdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a front view of a box portion of an outlet box in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 1C is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a cover portion of the outlet boxin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the outlet box in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 5B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 5C is a bottom view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the box portion of FIGS. 1A-1C, before beingfolded into the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-1C;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the cover portion of FIGS. 2A and 2B, beforebeing folded into the configuration shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B; and

FIGS. 9-21 are views of various steps of a method of installing theoutlet box on a structure in accordance with the present invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The ensuing detailed description provides preferred exemplaryembodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability,or configuration of the herein disclosed inventions. Rather, the ensuingdetailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments will providethose skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementingthe preferred exemplary embodiments in accordance with the hereindisclosed invention. It should be understood that various changes may bemade in the function and arrangement of elements without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appendedclaims.

To aid in describing the invention, directional terms may be used in thespecification and claims to describe portions of the present invention(e.g, upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitionsare merely intended to assist in describing and claiming the inventionand are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In addition,reference numerals that are introduced in the specification inassociation with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or moresubsequent figures without additional description in the specification,in order to provide context for other features.

For purposes of the specification and claims, two parts, components,assemblies, lines, surfaces, or planes are considered to be“substantially parallel” to another when an absolute value of themeasurement of the angle between the two parts, components, assemblies,lines, surfaces, or planes does not exceed 10 degrees.

FIGS. 1A-1C and 7 show various views of a box portion 20 of anembodiment of an outlet box 10 (see FIG. 4) according to the presentinvention. As best seen in FIG. 7, in this embodiment the box portion 20is made from a single piece of material (e.g., aluminum, steel, or othermetal), which is folded where illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 7 toform the box portion 20 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. In alternate embodiments,the box portion 20 may be made of more than one piece of material.

In this embodiment, the box portion 20 has a front side 24 and a rearside 25 that define a depth 22 of the box portion 20. The box portion 20has a top edge 26, a side edge 27, a bottom edge 28, a side edge 29, sixexterior angled corner edges (for convenience, only exterior angledcorner edge 52 a is labeled in the Figures), and a pair of exteriorstraight corner edges 53 a,53 b that collectively form an exteriorperimeter 30 of the box portion 20. The exterior perimeter 30 of the boxportion 20 defines the boundaries of a two-dimensional exterior area 31of the box portion 20, The top edge 26 and a first pair of the exteriorangled corner edges (including exterior angled corner edge 52 a) areparts of an exterior top flange 48. The side edge 29 and a second pairof exterior angled corner edges are parts of an exterior side flange 51.The bottom edge 28, an exterior angled corner edge, and the exteriorstraight corner edge 53 a are parts of the exterior bottom flange 50.The side edge 27, an exterior angled corner edge, and the exteriorstraight corner edge 53 b are parts of the exterior side flange 49. Inan alternate embodiment, the exterior straight corner edges 53 a,53 bcould be made angled like the exterior angled corner edges.

The box portion 20 further comprises a top panel 55, a side panel 56, abottom panel 59, a side panel 61, and an assembly flange 57 attached tothe side panel 56. The assembly flange 57 has an assembly fastener hole58 therein and the bottom panel 59 has an assembly fastener hole 60therein. When the box portion 20 is folded as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, anassembly fastener 62 (see FIG. 14) is routed through the assemblyfastener holes 58,60 in order to hold the box portion 20 together. Inalternate embodiments, the assembly flange may be provided with abendable tab or other piece that may fit within a slot or otherappropriately shaped receptacle located on or in the bottom panel 59, sothat the box portion 20 may be formed from a single piece of materialand held integrally together without the use of any additional parts.

The front edges of the top panel 55, side panel 56, bottom panel 59, andside panel 61 define a box portion front opening 36. Ignoring theextreme corners of these panels 55,56,59,61 (i.e., where the panelstransition from one side to the next and small gaps are present at thecorners), the box portion front opening 36 defines a box portion frontopening perimeter 37 that in this embodiment is approximately a square,though in alternate embodiments may be rectangular, triangular,circular, or an irregular shape. The box portion front opening perimeter37 defines the boundaries of a two-dimensional box portion front openingarea 38. Interior to the box portion front opening 36 are four interiorflanges, interior top flange 40, interior side flange 41, interiorbottom flange 42, and interior side flange 43. Each of the interiorflanges 40-43 has a pair of interior angled corner edges (forconvenience, only interior angled corner edge 46 a of interior topflange 40 is labeled in the Figures) and a pair of mounting holes routedtherethrough (for convenience, only mounting hole 44 a is labeled in theFigures). As will be described below in further detail, the mountingholes located on the interior flanges 40-43 receive fasteners forsecuring the box portion 20 to a structural surface (e.g., a. wall,roof, or floor of a structure). In alternate embodiments best suited fornew construction applications, the interior flanges could extend awayfrom (i.e., be located exterior to) the perimeter of the interioropening 32 located at the rear side of the box portion 20.

The interior flanges 40-43 collectively define an interior opening 32 ofthe box portion 20. Ignoring the extreme corners of the interior flanges40-43 (i.e., where the interior angled corner edges come together toform each corner, and small gaps are present), the interior opening 32defines an interior opening perimeter 33 that in this embodiment isapproximately a square, though in alternate embodiments may berectangular, triangular, circular, or an irregular shape. The interioropening perimeter 33 defines the boundaries of a two-dimensionalinterior opening area 34.

In this embodiment, the interior opening area 34 is smaller than the boxportion front opening area 38, which is smaller than the exterior area31 of the box portion 20. Other relationships between the magnitudes ofthese areas 31,34,38 are possible within the scope of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 8 show various views of a cover portion 64 of thepresent embodiment of the outlet box 10 according to the presentinvention. As best seen in FIG. 8, in this embodiment the cover portion64 is made from a single piece of material (e.g., aluminum or othermetal), which is folded where illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 8 toform the cover portion 64 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In alternateembodiments, the cover portion 64 may be made of more than one piece ofmaterial.

In this embodiment, the cover portion 64 has a front side 65 and a rearside 66 that define a depth 71 of the cover portion 64. The coverportion 64 has a top edge 67, a side edge 68, a bottom edge 69, and aside edge 70 that collectively form an exterior perimeter of the coverportion 64. The cover portion 64 further includes a outlet cover opening72, which in this embodiment is sized and shaped to accommodate theattachment of a standard outlet cover 2 thereto (see FIG. 4). As seen inFIG. 2B, the cover portion 64 comprises a top flange 74, a side flange75, a bottom flange 76, and a side flange 77.

As seen in FIGS. 4-6, the outlet box 10 is assembled by sliding thecover portion 64 over the exterior flanges 48-51 of the box portion 20so that the cover portion 64 covers the box portion front opening 36(with the exception of the outlet cover opening 72 located in the coverportion 64). The top flange 74 and side flanges 75,77 of the coverportion 64 are bent such that some space is left between each respectiveflange and the remainder of the cover portion 64 such that therespective exterior flange (i.e., exterior flanges 48,49,51) of the boxportion 20 can be accommodated therein, As seen in the sectional viewsof FIGS. 3 and 6, the bottom flange 76 of the cover portion is bent sothat it is flattened directly against the remainder of the cover portion64. In this way, once installed on the box portion 20, the cover portion64 is unlikely to be accidentally knocked loose from the box portion 20,and may only be uninstalled from the box portion 20 by simultaneouslymoving the cover portion 64 in a removal direction 63 (i.e., in adirection that is substantially away from the front side 24 of the boxportion 20) and upwardly (i.e., in a direction that is substantiallytowards the top panel 55 of the box portion 20). Only by moving thecover portion 64 in the removal direction 63 will the bottom flange 76be relocated such that it is not located directly below the exteriorbottom flange 50 of the box portion 20, thus permitting the coverportion 64 to then be removed from the box portion 20 by sliding thecover portion 64 upwardly.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the outlet box 10 has a depth 12 measured betweenthe front side 65 of the cover portion 64 and the rear side 25 of thebox portion 20. In this embodiment, the magnitude of the depth 12 of theoutlet box 10 is less than the sum of the magnitudes of the depth 22 ofthe box portion 20 and the depth 71 of the cover portion 64. Inalternate embodiments, these magnitudes may be equal.

FIGS. 9-21 illustrate various steps of performing a method of installingthe outlet box 10 in accordance with the present invention on anexisting structure. FIG. 9 shows a structure 4, which is comprised ofwall sheathing 6 (e.g., plywood wall sheathing). Prior to the step shownin FIG. 9, the User will have determined where an object (e.g., a wire,conduit, or pipe) should penetrate from the interior to the exterior ofthe structure, and drilled or cut an appropriate object throughhole 78in the structure 4. In this embodiment, the object throughhole 78 is around hole for passage of an electrical wire therethrough.

In the step shown in FIG. 9, the user holds the box portion 20 of anoutlet box 10 over the object throughhole 78, approximately centers theobject throughhole 78 within the interior opening area 34, and thencreates an approximate outlet box marking 80 on the wall sheathing 6.The perimeter 81 of the approximate outlet box marking 80 will roughlycorrespond with the box portion front opening perimeter 37.

In the step shown in FIG. 10, an appropriate underlayment 82 isinstalled over the wall sheathing 6, and an approximate objectthroughhole marking 83 is created on the underlayment 82. Theapproximate object throughhole marking 83 overlies the approximateoutlet box marking 80 and is centered about the object throughhole 78.

In the step shown in FIG. 11, the structural panels (e.g., metal wallpanels or vinyl siding panels) are installed on the structure 4 untilthe next building panel will cover all or part of the approximate objectthroughhole marking 83. As shown in FIG. 11, a first building panel 84comprising a panel lock 85 has been installed on the structure 4. In thestep shown in FIG. 12, the user measures the distance 87 between abottom edge 86 of the panel lock 85 of the first building panel 84 andthe center of the approximate object throughhole marking 83.

In the step shown in FIG. 13, a second building panel 89 is placed inposition adjacent to the first building panel 84 and the user creates anapproximate object throughhole marking 88 on the second building panel89 at a position corresponding with a distance 90 measured from thebottom edge 86 of the panel lock 85 of the first building panel 84. Thedistance 90 is equal to the distance 87, and the approximate objectthroughhole marking 88 corresponds with the approximate location of theobject throughhole 78. In the steps shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the userplaces the box portion 20 atop the second building panel 89,approximately centers the approximate object throughhole marking 88within the interior opening area 34, and then creates a rectangularmarking 91 on the second building panel 89. The rectangular marking 91has a length and width that approximately correspond with the maximumlength and width of the exterior area 31 of the box portion 20.

In the step shown in FIG. 16, the user cuts an outlet box hole 92 in thesecond building panel 89 that corresponds with the rectangular marking91. The approximate object throughhole marking 83 should be visiblewithin the outlet box hole 92 and approximately centered therein. Atthis point, the user may want to temporarily place the box portion 20 inthe outlet box hole 92 to check for a proper fit. If the outlet box hole92 is too small to fit the box portion 20 therein, the outlet box hole92 may need to be increased in size. Once the outlet box hole 92 isproperly dimensioned, the second building panel 89 is property installedon the structure 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 17, adhesive weatherproof strips 93 a-93 d areinstalled onto the rear sides of respective interior flanges 40-43. Insome embodiments, the adhesive weatherproof strips 93 a-93 d arecomprised of butyl tape. In the step shown in FIG. 18, the box portion20 is placed within the outlet box hole 92 and the adhesive weatherproofstrips 93 a-93 d are pressed into contact with the underlayment 82. Atthis point, the user may punch a throughhole 94 through the underlayment82 at the location of the approximate object throughhole marking 83.

In the step shown in FIG. 19, a weatherproof sealant 96 is placed aroundeach of the mounting holes (including mounting hole 44 a) and the entireinterior opening perimeter 33, and a plurality of fasteners (forconvenience, only fastener 95 a is labeled in the Figures) are routedthrough the mounting holes and into the structure 4, As the fastenersare tightened down, the sealant generates a nice seal around thefasteners and the interior opening 32. The adhesive weatherproof strips93 a-93 d and weatherproof sealant 96 act to ensure that no water thatenters the outlet box 10 will escape behind the building panels 84,89.In alternate embodiments, the weatherproof strips need not be adhesive,and could merely make a press fit against the underlayment 82.

In the steps shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the cover portion 64 is installedon the box portion 20 to form the completed outlet box 10, and theobject 79 (in this embodiment, a wire) is pulled through the objectthroughhole 78, throughhole 94 in the underlayment 82, and into theoutlet box 10. The object 79 is now ready to be used, for example via,wiring to an outlet.

An exemplary order of steps of the method according to the presentinvention has been set forth above. One of ordinary skill in the artwould recognize that some of the steps could be reordered, combined,and/or omitted while keeping within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

Although exemplary implementations of the herein described device andmethod have been described in detail above, those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possiblein the exemplary embodiment(s) without materially departing from thenovel teachings and advantages of the herein described device andmethod. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the herein described device and method. Theherein described device and method may be better defined by thefollowing exemplary claims.

Additional Aspects of the Invention

Additional aspects of the invention include:

Aspect 1: A receptacle outlet box comprising a body comprising: aplurality of rear flanges, a plurality of front flanges, and a pluralityof side panels, the plurality of side panels defining a body frontopening, each of the plurality of front flanges extending outwardly fromone of the plurality of side panels, each of the plurality of rearflanges being co-planar to the other flanges of the plurality of rearflanges, each of the plurality of rear flanges being located in a firstplane, each of the plurality of front flanges being located in a secondplane, the first and second planes being substantially parallel, each ofthe plurality of side panels extending from the first plane to thesecond plane, the plurality of rear flanges having a plurality offastener apertures formed therein; and a cover comprising a face portionand a plurality of cover flanges, the face portion having a front sidehaving a cover front opening located therein, a rear side, and aplurality of outer edges, each of the plurality of cover flangesextending inwardly from one of the plurality of outer edges to form agap between the rear side of the face portion and the respective one ofthe cover flanges, the plurality of cover flanges defining a cover rearopening; wherein the plurality of cover flanges of the cover and theplurality of front flanges of the body are shaped and configured so thatat least some of the plurality of front flanges extend into at leastsome of the gaps in the cover when the cover is slid along the secondplane into contact with the body.

Aspect 2: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 1, the bodyfurther comprising a body rear opening having a perimeter, wherein theplurality of rear flanges do not extend into the perimeter.

Aspect 3: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 1, the bodyfurther comprising a body rear opening having a perimeter, wherein atleast one of the plurality of rear flanges extend into the perimeter.

Aspect 4: A receptacle outlet box that is attachable to a surface of astructure, the surface lying in a plane, the receptacle outlet boxcomprising: a box portion and a cover portion, the box portioncomprising a rear side that is attachable to the surface, the rear sidehaving a rear opening; and a front side opposing the rear side, thefront side located away from the surface when the box portion isattached to the surface, the front side having a front opening, at leastone flange extending away from the front opening, and a first stopmember located on a bottom portion of the box portion; the cover portioncomprising at least one slot and a second stop member located on abottom portion of the cover portion, the cover portion being removablyinstallable onto the box portion by inserting at least one of the atleast one flange into at least one of the at least one slot and movingthe cover portion in a direction toward the first stop member until thesecond stop member moves past the first stop member and a bottom edge ofthe first stop member and a top edge of the second stop member becomecoplanar; wherein when the receptacle outlet box is attached to thesurface, the cover portion is removable from the box portion by movingthe second stop member in a direction away from the structure until thefirst stop member and second stop member are no longer coplanar andmoving the second stop member past the first stop member and away fromthe bottom portion of the box portion until the at least one flangedisengages from the at least one slot.

Aspect 5: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 4, wherein theat least one flange is parallel to the plane and at least one of thefirst stop member and second stop member is not parallel to the planewhen the receptacle outlet box is installed on the surface.

Aspect 6: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 5, wherein boththe first stop member and the second stop member are not parallel to theplane when the receptacle outlet box is installed on the surface.

Aspect 7: The receptacle outlet box according to any of Aspects 4-6,wherein the rear side of the box portion comprises at least one mountingflange that extends into a perimeter of the rear opening.

Aspect 8: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 7, wherein theat least one mounting flange is adapted to receive a fastener forattaching the receptacle outlet box to the surface.

Aspect 9: The receptacle outlet box according to any of Aspects 4-8,wherein the rear side of the box portion comprises at least one mountingflange that extends away from the perimeter of the rear opening.

Aspect 10: The receptacle outlet box according to Aspect 9, wherein theat least one mounting flange is adapted to receive a fastener forattaching the receptacle outlet box to the surface.

Aspect 11: The receptacle outlet box according to any of Aspects 4-10,further comprising a plurality of panels that space the front side ofthe box portion away from the rear side of the box portion.

Aspect 12:The receptacle outlet box according to any of Aspects 4-11,the at least one flange comprising a top flange and a pair of sideflanges, wherein when the receptacle outlet box is attached to thesurface the top flange and pair of side flanges are coplanar and lie ina second plane that is parallel to the plane of the surface and thefirst stop member lies in a third plane that is not parallel to theplane of the surface.

Aspect 13: A method of installing a receptacle outlet box on a surfaceof a structure overlying a throughhole that extends between an interiorand an exterior of the structure, the structure having at least onepre-installed building panel attached thereto, the receptacle outlet boxhaving a box portion and a cover portion, the box portion having a frontside and a rear side that is attachable to the surface, the rear sidehaving a rear opening and at least one flange that extends interior to aperimeter of the rear opening, the front side having a front opening, atleast one flange that extends away from a perimeter of the frontopening, and a first stop member located on a bottom portion of thefront side, the cover portion having at least one slot and a second stopmember located on a bottom portion thereof, the method comprising:cutting a hole in the at least one building panel approximatelyoverlying the throughhole in the structure and that approximates theperimeter of the rear side of the receptacle outlet box; inserting thereceptacle outlet box into the hole so that the rear portion contactsthe surface, at least a portion of the throughhole aligns with at leasta portion of the rear opening of the rear side of the receptacle outletbox, and the at least one building panel is located between the at leastone flange of the front side of the box portion and the surface of thestructure; attaching the receptacle outlet box to the surface; andremovably installing the cover portion to the box portion by engagingthe at least one slot with the at least one flange of the box portionand moving the cover portion in a direction toward the first stop memberuntil the second stop member moves past the first stop member and abottom edge of the first stop member and a top edge of the second stopmember become coplanar.

Aspect 14: The method according to Aspect 13, further comprising passinga wire from the interior of the structure through the throughhole andinto the receptacle outlet box.

Aspect 15: The method according to either of Aspect 13 or Aspect 14,wherein the step of attaching the receptacle outlet box to the surfacefurther comprises routing at least one fastener through the at least oneflange of the rear side of the box portion and into the surface of thestructure.

Aspect 16: The method according to any of Aspects 13-15, furthercomprising, prior to the step of inserting the receptacle outlet boxinto the hole, forming the receptacle outlet box from a blank by foldingthe blank into the configuration of the receptacle outlet box.

Aspect 17: The method according to any of Aspects 13-16, furthercomprising, prior to the step of removably installing the cover portionto the box portion, forming the cover portion from a blank by foldingthe blank into the configuration of the cover portion.

Aspect 18: The method according to any of Aspects 13-17, furthercomprising applying a weatherproof material to the rear side of the boxportion of the receptacle outlet box prior to the step of attaching thereceptacle box to the surface.

Aspect 19: The method according to any of Aspects 13-18, after the stepof removably installing the cover portion to the box portion, removingthe cover portion from the box portion by moving the second stop memberin a direction away from the structure until the first stop member andsecond stop member are no longer coplanar and then moving the secondstop member past the first stop member and away from the bottom portionof the box portion until the at least one flange disengages from the atleast one slot.

Aspect 20: A method for installing a plurality of structural panels anda receptacle outlet box onto a building structure, the buildingstructure comprising an underlayment already installed thereon, themethod comprising: (a) identifying a location of a throughhole to beformed in the underlayment; (b) installing the plurality of structuralpanels to the building structure over the underlayment; (c) afterperforming step (b), cutting a body hole in one or more of the pluralityof structural panels of sufficient size to enable a body of thereceptacle outlet box to be attached to the building structure directlyatop the underlayment, the throughhole being located at least partiallywithin the body hole, the body of the receptacle outlet box having aplurality of rear flanges located in a first plane, a plurality of sidepanels, and a plurality of front flanges located in a second plane, theplurality of side panels extending from the first plane to the secondplane, the plurality of rear flanges having a plurality of fastenerapertures therein; (d) fastening the body of the receptacle outlet boxto the building structure through the underlayment using a plurality offasteners that are passed through the plurality of fastener apertures;and (e) attaching a cover to the body by sliding the cover along thesecond plane to engage at least some of the plurality of front flangesof the body until a front opening in the cover overlaps the throughhole.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle outlet box comprising: a bodycomprising a plurality of rear flanges, a plurality of front flanges,and a plurality of side panels, the plurality of side panels defining abody front opening, each of the plurality of front flanges extendingoutwardly from one of the plurality of side panels and in a directionaway from a center of the body, each of the plurality of rear flangesbeing co-planar to the other flanges of the plurality of rear flanges,each of the plurality of rear flanges extending inwardly from one of theplurality of side panels and in a direction of the center of the body,each of the plurality of rear flanges being located in a first plane,each of the plurality of front flanges being located in a second plane,the first and second planes being substantially parallel, each of theplurality of side panels extending from the first plane to the secondplane, the plurality of rear flanges having a plurality of fastenerapertures formed therein; and a cover comprising a face portion and aplurality of cover flanges, the face portion having a front side havinga cover front opening located therein, a rear side, and a plurality ofouter edges, each of the plurality of cover flanges extending inwardlyfrom one of the plurality of outer edges to form a gap between the rearside of the face portion and the respective one of the cover flanges,the plurality of cover flanges defining a cover rear opening; whereinthe plurality of cover flanges of the cover and the plurality of frontflanges of the body are shaped and configured so that at least some ofthe plurality of front flanges extend into at least some of the gaps inthe cover when the cover is slid along the second plane into contactwith the body.
 2. The receptacle outlet box of claim 1, the body furthercomprising a body rear opening having a perimeter, wherein the pluralityof rear flanges do not extend into the perimeter.
 3. The receptacleoutlet box of claim 1, the body further comprising a body rear openinghaving a perimeter, wherein at least one of the plurality of rearflanges extend into the perimeter.
 4. A receptacle outlet box that isattachable to a surface of a structure, the surface lying in a plane,the receptacle outlet box comprising: a box portion and a cover portion,the box portion comprising a rear side that is attachable to thesurface, the rear side having a rear opening; and a front side opposingthe rear side, the front side located away from the surface when the boxportion is attached to the surface, the front side having a frontopening, at least one flange extending away from the front opening, anda first stop member comprising a bottom flange extending from a bottomportion of the box portion; and the cover portion comprising a frontface, a rear face, at least one slot, and a second stop membercomprising a bottom flange extending from a bottom portion of the coverportion, the bottom flange being integrally connected to the bottomportion of the cover portion and including a distal end, an insidesurface, and an outside surface, the bottom flange being bent toward therear face of the cover portion such that the inside surface of thebottom flange abuts the rear face of the cover portion, the coverportion being removably installable onto the box portion by inserting atleast one of the at least one flange into at least one of the at leastone slot and moving the cover portion in a direction toward the firststop member until the second stop member moves past the first stopmember and a bottom edge of the first stop member and the distal end ofthe second stop member become coplanar; wherein when the receptacleoutlet box is attached to the surface, the cover portion is removablefrom the box portion by moving the second stop member in a directionaway from the structure until the first stop member and second stopmember are no longer coplanar and moving the second stop member past thefirst stop member and away from the bottom portion of the box portionuntil the at least one flange disengages from the at least one slot. 5.The receptacle outlet box of claim 4, wherein the at least one flange isparallel to the plane and at least one of the first stop member andsecond stop member is not parallel to the plane when the receptacleoutlet box is installed on the surface.
 6. The receptacle outlet box ofclaim 5, wherein both the first stop member and the second stop memberare not parallel to the plane when the receptacle outlet box isinstalled on the surface.
 7. The receptacle outlet box of claim 4,wherein the rear side of the box portion comprises at least one mountingflange that extends into a perimeter of the rear opening.
 8. Thereceptacle outlet box of claim 7, wherein the at least one mountingflange is adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the receptacleoutlet box to the surface.
 9. The receptacle outlet box of claim 4,wherein the rear side of the box portion comprises at least one mountingflange that extends away from the perimeter of the rear opening.
 10. Thereceptacle outlet box of claim 9, wherein the at least one mountingflange is adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the receptacleoutlet box to the surface.
 11. The receptacle outlet box of claim 4,further comprising a plurality of panels that space the front side ofthe box portion away from the rear side of the box portion.
 12. Thereceptacle outlet box of claim 4, the at least one flange comprising atop flange and a pair of side flanges, wherein when the receptacleoutlet box is attached to the surface the top flange and pair of sideflanges are coplanar and lie in a second plane that is parallel to theplane of the surface and the first stop member lies in a third planethat is not parallel to the plane of the surface.
 13. A receptacleoutlet box comprising: a body comprising a plurality of rear flanges, aplurality of front flanges, and a plurality of side panels, theplurality of side panels defining a body front opening having a frontopening perimeter and a body rear opening having a rear openingperimeter, each of the plurality of rear flanges extending inwardly fromthe rear opening perimeter and in a direction toward a center of thebody, the plurality of rear flanges having a plurality of fastenerapertures formed therein; and a cover comprising a face portion and aplurality of cover flanges which correspond to the plurality of frontflanges, wherein the cover and the body are operationally configured toenable the cover to be removably secured to the body with the faceportion of the cover proximal to the body front opening and extendingoutwardly beyond the front opening perimeter along each of the pluralityof side panels; and wherein at least one cover flange of the pluralityof cover flanges is bent to create at least one slot between the atleast one cover flange and the face portion, the at least one slot beingsized and shaped to receive a corresponding one of the plurality offront flanges.
 14. The receptacle outlet box of claim 13, wherein atleast one cover flange of the plurality of cover flanges is bent suchthat it is flattened against the face portion of the cover.
 15. Thereceptacle outlet box of claim 14, wherein the at least one cover flangeis configured to engage with a corresponding one of the plurality offront flanges to inhibit movement of the cover relative to the body inone direction.
 16. The receptacle outlet box of claim 15, wherein the atleast one cover flange is configured to be coplanar with thecorresponding one of the plurality of front flanges when the cover issecured to the body.
 17. The receptacle outlet box of claim 13, whereinthe plurality of front flanges includes a top front flange, a bottomfront flange, and a pair of side front flanges.
 18. The receptacleoutlet box of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cover flanges includesa top cover flange, a bottom cover flange, and pair of side coverflanges, the top and pair of side cover flanges being sized and shapedto interface with the top and pair of side front flanges, respectively,when the cover is secured to the body.